Head, nose, eye, and ear protective means



March 11, 1930. CHAMBERS 1,750,036

HEAD, NOSE, EYE, AND EAR PROTECTIVE MEANS Filed March 10, 1928 1N VEN TOR. 54 67/4/145595 F122;. 6. ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD E. CHAMBERS, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA HEAD, NOSE, EYE, AND EAR PROTECTIVE MEANS Application filed March 10, 1928. Serial No. 260,635.

covering, an eye protective means in the form of a pair of goggles molded to shape to conform to the outlines of the users face, together with car and respiratory protective means whereby the said user is effectively protected in all respects against the deleterious efiects produced in arc spotting, gas welding, furnace work, grinding and chipping, sand blasting, paint spraying, auto mobiling and the like.

It is, of course, true that devices or apparatuses of this sort have heretofore been proposed for the protection of artisans and other persons, but all said known devices have failed for the reason that the user is practically smothered, entailing excessive perspiration of said user, resulting, as is frequently the case in certain proposed devices where rubber is used, in the deterioration of said rubber, making the device useless. Moreover, considerable time is lost in adjusting, putting in place or removing the known devices. It may also be stated that said devices are cumbersome, complicated and insure extreme discomfort to the user, who refuse to use them, preferring ordinary goggles which are easily mislaid, are unprote'ctive, and involve the use of rubber, which is subject to deterioration. By the use of my invention all these objectionable defects are effectively eliminated.

It accordingly is an object of my invention to provide a novel form of protective head gear or helmet composed of non-inflammable, heat resisting material, so constructed as to provide for proper ventilation so as to provide an absolutely non-fogging, nonperspiring, time saving device which will effectively protect the eyes, head, ears and respiratory organs of the wearer, said device comprising a head protective means, associated with a pair of goggles adapted to be adjusted in two directions, and molded to shape, preferably formed of a phenol condensation product known to the trade as bakelite said goggles also capable of being adjusted toward and away from the face of the user, said ear protective means and respiratory organ protective means being optionally used or not as desired, said goggles being also adapted to be quickly pushed over said helmet when not in use.

The hereinbefore objects and advantages, and those which will hereinafter more fully appear, I attain in the protective gear constructed' as described in the specification and lllustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar parts. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through Fig. 1 on the line 2-2, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale on the line 33, Fig. 1, also looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a modification,

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of one of the washers used with the links associated with the head gear or helmet,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 66, Fig. 1 illustrating the manner in which the helmet or head protective gear is ventilated,

Fig. 7 is a detached front elevational view of one of the goggles, showing the manner in which one adjustment is attained, and

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of one way in which the respiratory protective means may be detachably associated with the goggles.

Describing my invention more in detail, my invention comprises a hemlet, head covering, or head protective gear 2 composed of flexible, heat and flame resisting material, light in weight, so as not to afiord discomfort to the wearer, said material being preferably stamped or cut to shape so that it will. when assembled conform to the shape of the head of the wearer, covering substantially the greater portion of his head, but at -may a the same time providing ample ventilation space.

Thehelmet 2 is formed with a bod portion 4, equip ed with side portions or a s 6, ada ted to .e secured at their free on s to sai body portions, preferably by means of eyelets 8, which eyelets also form a ventilatin means, insuring comfort for the wearer, alt ough said flaps may be secured to said body portion in any manner preferred. It

so be stated that said helmet may be formed otherwise and still remain within the spirit of m invention.

Preferab y associated interiorly with the helmet 2 is a combined head and sweat band 10, preferably formed by folding a strip of suitable material upon itself and stitching the end ortions together to form tabs whereb said and may be adjustably positioned on t e head of the wearer by means of a buckle or other device 12, shown more articularly in Fig. 4, the inner portion 14, being stitched only at the lower end, leaving the doubled ortion open at the to as seen in Fig. 2, the lnner part of said oubled' portion being preferably secured interiorly to the lower ortion of the helmet by means of eyelets 16, orming additional ventilating means, and also insuring that the device is non-sweating. At spaced intervals, a set of spacing elements 18 (see Fi 6) is provided, which elements also rovi e spaces for ventilation, a strip of flexi 1e, and at the same time substantially rigid material 20, preferably of the same material as that out of which the helmet 2 is made, bein inserted between the open ended band 10, the eyelets 16 securing said band, said elements and said strip together, the forehead of the wearer being effectively protected from coming into contact with any part of the helmet 2, thus insuring ample ventilation comfort and avoiding the excessive persplration produced by the heavy, awkward and uncomfortable constructions heretofore pro osed. The elements 18 may be made of cor k, fibre, or any desired material as in practice preferred. 1

It may also be noted that the top portion of the helmet 2 sets free from the head of the wearer, space being provided for permittin air to enter between the top of the head an said helmet, a circulation of air between the helmet, head and forehead of the wearer being thus provided, a feature of utmost importance by reason of the comfort thus attained b the user.- No rubber whatever is used wit my device, insuring the long life of the device.

Associated with the helmet 2 is a pair of goggles, designated generally by the numeral 22. Said goggles are constructed ofespecial form, being preferably molded to the contour of the face of the wearer, and in practice being preferably made of bakelite as hereinbefore mentioned. Obviously, one pair of goggles will not accurately fit the faces of all users; hence provision must be made whereby said (goggles may be adjusted, otherwise it woul necessitate the constructlon of goggles of various sizes, entailing much additional expense, this being also another important feature of my invention.

To this end, instead of making the connection 24 between the goggles of one solid piece, I split the same in the middle, formin two parts, and connect the same preferably by means of the hinge portions 26, which may be of any desired form, so that said goggles may be adjusted in close association with the eyes and face of the user, but at the same time keeping them quite free therefrom, insuring comfort and ventilation and at the same time effectively protecting the eyes of said user, insuring also that there will be no fogging of the lenses of the goggles, a feature which in so far as I am aware, has never heretofore been provided.

As seen more particularl in Fig. 7, a second adjustment of the gogg cs 22 may be provided, that is to say, the distance between said goggles may be adjusted. To this end, I equip each part of the two part connection 24 with a slot 26' over which the part 28 of the hinge 26, which is preferably made of metal, extends, each of said parts 28 being equipped with a hole 30, preferably screwthreaded, to receive the fastening means in the shape of screws 32. Said screws enter the slots 26, the goggle assembly being thus securely held together, and at the same time permitting the adjustment of the goggles toward and away from the face of the user. Loosening the screws 32, permits the goggles to be ad usted toward or away from each other, thus accommodating the face of any individual.

As seen in Fig. 3, I preferably provide a pair of lenses 34 and 36, which may be separated from each other by means of a washer 38, preferably of soft material, a washer 40, also formed of cushioning material, being positioned between the inner lens 36 and the frame work of the goggles so that said lenses may not be broken when dropped. Both lenses may be made of colored glass, mica and the like, or one may be of ordinary uncolored glass, mica or other transparent material, said lenses and washers being held in detachable relation with said goggles by means of the preferably screw-threaded bushing or other evice 42. In said figure also, and in Fig. 2, it will be noted that the goggles 22 are curved as at 44 to conform to the contour of the face of the user.

As seen in Fig. 1, each goggle is equipped with a projection 46 whereby said goggles may be supported. Said goggles form an intimate part of the invention, and are provided for the purpose of avoiding the unwieldy, smothering, and perspiration producing constructions heretofore proposed, which constructions are equipped with windows which are continually fogged for these reasons. At times it is necessary for the artisan to remove the eye protective gear. Ordinary goggles are easily mislaid in such cases, thus consuming time in looking for them. By the use of my invention this objectionable feature is avoided'by intimately associating said goggles with the helmet, at the same time permitting their use or removing them, said goggles being atall times available for instant use.

To this end, I provide a pair of links, preferably made of the same material as that of the helmet, and therefore flexible and preferably bent, as depicted in Fig. 1, so as to permit said links easily to pass said helmet as the goggles are shifted from the eyes of the user, over his head, and above said helmet. Each projection 46 has positioned therein a screw-threaded stem projecting therefrom, which stem is adapted to take into one of the holes 50 formed in the outer ends of each of said links 48 so that the goggles 22 may be adjusted toward and away from the face of the user and of course toward and away from the helmet 2.

To provide a convenient means for holding the links 48 in position, and at the same time permit a movement of said links with respect to the goggles, a warped washer 52 (see especially Fig. 5), preferably of a suitable metal is provided, a knurled annular finger piece 54, positioned 011 the stem of the projection 46, abutting said washer, a nut 56 being provided for securing purposes. It will be clear, however, that this construction may in practice be changed.

Substantially the same construction is provided forthe inner ends of the links 48, that is to say, the points where said links are associated with the helmet 2, the construction being identical, except that a headed shank 58 is used instead of the stem of the projection 46, a nut 60 being positioned between the inner end of each link 48 and the body por tion of the helmet 2, said shank being of course screw-threaded to receive the parts 54, 56 and 60.

The structure just described permits, as stated, the adjustment of the goggles toward and away from the helmet or the face of the wearer when not in use, said goggles being securely held in any desired position without any manipulation whatever of the finger pieces 54, the washer 52 functioning admirably for this purpose.

As seen more particularly in Fig. 4, the side portion of each goggle may be provided with a set of holes, 62, preferably not extended entirely through said goggles, but being merely depressions, but capable of being extended entirely through said goggles by a pointed implement, in case the wearer desires additional ventilating means for said goggles, or

where the individual is subject to free and easy perspiration, to insure that the lenses under no circumstances will become fogged.

If desired, means may be provided for protecting the respiratory organs of the individual, where dangerous gases'are at hand. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, a. cup-shaped device 64, adapted to cover the nose and mouth of the user, being pro vided, said device being equipped with any preferred means, such as a sponge, gauze and the like 66, held in position by means of the screens 68, which, if desired, may all be detachably associated with the device 64, said device being provided with an opening to permit respiration. It will be understood, of course, that this construction is suggestive merely and in practice may be changed. Any means for detachably associating the device 64, which may be made of any suitable material, with the goggles 22 may be provided. This means may be a vertical bar 72 of any preferred light material, and secured to said device as shown, or otherwise, which bar may be equipped with an anchoring portion 7 4 adapted to be held in position on the goggles 22 by the fasteners 32. It will be clear, however, that the device 64 may be secured to the goggles 22 at any point and by any means in practice preferred.

Should it be desirable to protect the ears of the artisan, as for example when he is operating with his head inclined, and the incandescent sparks descending in such position, an ear protective means 76 of any preferred kind may be provided, said means being detachably or permanently associated with the helmet by means of the bar 7 8 and securing means 80. See Fig. 4.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a slight modification of my invention where a skeleton helmet H consisting of a set of bands is used, where it is not desired to protect the head of the wearer. Otherwise this construction is identical with the other form of my invention.

While l have thus described my invention with great particularity, it will be clear that the same may be modified throughout a wide range. I accordingly do not propose to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, but reserve the right in practice to make any and all modifications thereof that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A head gear of the class described comprising a crown having a forehead covering portion, and an upper portion open at its rear end, a band attached to the bottom and inside of said forehead covering portion and in spaced relation thereto to coact with said open upper portion to provide for air circulation, a pair of goggles hingedly connected and provided with means for adjusting said goggles in a horizontal plane independently of the hi connections, and a pair of arms for pivot 1y connecting said goggles to said crown.

2. A head gear of the class described comprising a crown portion, open at its upper rear end, a band connected to said head gear, and spaced therefrom, said spaces and said open end being adapted to coact to provide for air circulation in said head gear, a pair of goggles, a hinging connection for said goggles to provide for a relative adjustment of said goggles in a horizontal plane, and means for pivotally connecting said goggles with said crown portion.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HOWARD E. CHAMBERS. 

